Spanish IV Honors
Profe. Elizabeth Mansfield
Required texts / materials:
Repaso
This text is designed specifically for high school students in level IV or higher. This is a grammar
book in which grammar is not an end in itself, but rather a tool for communication. Repaso is
an excellent reference book to accompany students in their first years of Spanish study in
college.
La muerte y la doncella
This text is the newest addition to the Spanish IV Honors curriculum. This play takes place in
post-Pinochet Chile, and complements our study of Latin America.
Ancillary materials:
Cajas de carton
Beginning with past and current issues in Latin America, students research the many cultures of
the diverse countries in Latin America. Students’ explorations return to the United States with
Cajas de cartón, a short story that reveals some of the realities of migrant workers in the U.S.
The conditions in which they live and the story itself lend themselves as a jumping off point for
looking at the United States as a new home for immigrants.
El norte
This film is the story of a brother and sister who must leave Guatemala to escape the
retribution of the military after their father is caught plotting a revolt with fellow farmers to
take back control of the land they used to own. We witness the experiences and hardships that
they face in their journey through Mexico and during their illegal entry into the U.S., as well as
their experiences as illegal aliens in this country.
Listening selections from bbcmundo.com.
As students explore the Spanish speaking world here in the United States and around the globe,
listening assignments taken from bbcmundo.com will provide guidance to continue discovering,
learning, and using Spanish in meaningful, creative, and engaging contexts. Students will refine
their oral and written expression as they prepare for debates, discussions on current events,
presentations, and compositions.
Major Units of Study
Spanish Art Unit
The Spanish artists are introduced this year. Works range from those of El Greco and Velázquez
to Goya, Picasso, and Dalí. This unit culminates with a visit to the Art Institute and lunch at Café
Ibérico.
Thematic Vocabulary Units
New vocabulary and grammar structures will be introduced this year through three thematic
units: The Doctor’s Office, The Airport, and The Hotel. This vocabulary should serve the
students well here in the United States with work or travel or in Spanish-speaking countries.